Centre for Window and Cladding Technology

The Centre for Window and Cladding Technology (CWCT) is a publisher of standards and guidance only (not regulations), on corrosion, intrusion, fenestration, weather and fire resistance, acoustic and impact performance, of building envelopes, facades, cladding and glazing. Founded in 1989 and based in Bath, Somerset,[1] the CWCT provides training and courses, hosts international events, conferences, seminars and is recognised by over 330 member companies within the construction industry.[2]

Guidance on Fire Performance of façade cladding

TN98 (supersedes previous technical note TN73) Guidance for the fire performance of facades (including cladding) and suggests that any buildings with compartmented floors will limit spread of fire, thus affecting the design of interface points where the compartment floors meet the façade. Therefore, both of those components must be considered together, not in isolation. Fire resisting construction discourages the use of combustible materials in cladding to minimize the spread of fire, together with insisting adequate fire barriers are employed within building cavities. The specific fire strategy for the building, will be set out by the fire engineer including the requirements for the façade cladding. The fire performance of the cladding and façade should form a key part of the early in the design process and fire strategy.[3] Clearly the fire regulations specified here fall short of any requirement to state life saving requirements of fire spread by external cladding, cladding specification is entirely dependent on type of building construction combined with fire strategy dictated by the local fire officer, all is very ambiguous and clearly needs some serious changes to effect a fire resistant building, only apparent since the Grenfell Tower fire.[4]

Documents published by the CWCT

Windows with enhanced resistance to intrusion 1994

Guide to good practice for facades 1996

Guide to the selection and testing of stone panels for external use 1997

Performance and testing of fixings for thin stone cladding 1999

Standard for systemised building envelopes 2006

TN 7 Threat resistant fenestration 2000

TN 8 Selection of windows - a checklist for specifiers 2000

TN 17 Weathertightness and drainage 2000

TN 24 Corrosion 2000

TN 38 Acoustic performance of windows 2003

TN 39 Sound transmission through building envelopes 2003

TN 41 Site testing for watertightness 2004

TN 52 Impact performance of cladding 2006

TN 53 Method statements for the construction of building envelopes 2009

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